Due to continued violent conflict in Sudan over the past six months, 19 million Sudanese children are unable to access education.

“Sudan is on the brink of becoming home to the worst education crisis in the world…children have been exposed to the horrors of war for nearly half a year. Now, forced away from their classrooms, teachers and friends, they are at risk of falling into a void that will threaten the future of an entire generation,” said Mandeep O’Brien, the Sudan United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Country Representative. Here is information about what some are doing to address access to education in Sudan.

The History of Violence in Sudan

Since the 1980s, Sudan has experienced extreme violence at the hands of a militant government. For 30 years, al-Bashir ruled as Sudan’s dictator. In 2011, after years of civil disobedience, civil wars and public protests, South Sudan gained independence from the remainder of the country. In 2019, a military coup displaced al-Bashir and its leaders announced a move toward democracy. However, the two leaders of the coup began fighting each other on April 15, 2023, derailing Sudan’s democratic revolution and starting the current civil war.

Some schools are struggling to reopen and at least 171 schools became emergency shelters for the millions who this war displaced. Even those children who fled Sudan and are attending schools in other nearby countries struggle to focus on studies, as the violence they witnessed at home haunts them.

The Impact of Poverty in Sudan on Child Slavery and Education

As of 2020, 85% of Sudanese children are living in abject poverty. These conditions make the future of Sudan’s rising generation look bleak. With school closures depriving children of socialization with their peers and access to critical resources, they are much more likely to join militant groups actively recruiting displaced youth. This leaves them vulnerable to the influence of extremist beliefs, setting them on a potential path of more violence. Additionally, Sudanese girls are being abducted and forced into sex slavery and trafficking. 

As of October 27, 2023, this war has led to the deaths of up to 9,000 people and injured thousands more, according to the UN. A recent analysis shows that the earning loss from the conflict so far may result in a lifetime loss of up to $26 billion for the younger Sudanese generation.

UNICEF and Save the Children are working hard to bridge the widening education gap, including encouraging the reopening of schools and rehiring of teachers. Areas where it is unsafe to reopen schools are exploring alternative learning methods. Save the Children is working with 200 schools, providing educational resources and safe play spaces for school-age children.

Looking Ahead

Resistance committees in Sudan are working within their communities to improve infrastructure. Originally formed to non-violently organize against the two militant groups causing the civil war, they are now attempting to reconnect energy grids, create and staff medical clinics and meet other community needs. This collective is also creating a larger political roadmap, with the hope of ending the conflict and making Sudan a stable democracy.

– Casey Pratt
Photo: Wikimedia Commons